Music and performance in regional Victoria

Victoria’s love of live music and performance sends sound waves far and wide.  An estimated 350 festivals take place each year featuring live music – making Victoria one of the biggest music festival destinations in the world. Well-established annual events and a plethora of niche music festivals provide a new way to experience music – and a great excuse to explore the host town and surrounding region. Alongside the jam-packed calendar of music events and festivals, Victoria is also home to some of Australia’s leading regional live-performance venues, from large theatres to smaller scale venues for intimate gigs – even trams and trains are used as performance spaces. There is no shortage of live entertainment in this fun-loving state and visitors are invited to sit back, relax and enjoy the show at any of these stand out regional venues and festivals.

Goldfields

The gold rush brought many entrepreneurs to the towns of Bendigo, Ballarat, Castlemaine and surrounding areas. Town halls and theatres were built and the local population revelled in entertainment after a hard day’s work. As a result, Bendigo is now the home of three of the state’s most captivating theatres: The Capital has risen from a history of change beginning its life as a temple of the Masonic Lodge; The Engine Room lives in the Old Fire Station; and the latest theatre to raise the curtain in Bendigo, the Ulumbarra Theatre sits on the site of the historic Sandhurst Gaol.

For a performance with a difference, Bendigo’s Blues Tram takes passengers on a two-and-a-half-hour journey, with a live performance by talented musicians and drinks available on board. Blues fans can also enjoy the Bendigo Blues & Roots Music Festival (3-6 November 2016), a four day event of over 100 Blues and Roots performances and workshops throughout 30 historic Bendigo venues.  Those interested in innovative composition will enjoy the Bendigo International Festival of Exploratory Music (2–4 September 2016) where the emphasis is on premiere or rarely performed long form works. The festival brings the most innovative and virtuosic concert music from all around the world direct to Bendigo’s View Street Cultural precinct.

Launched in 2012, the Sanguine Estate Music Festival has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s leading chamber music festivals. Held over two weekends in February in Bendigo and Heathcote the event combines the best of chamber music, wine and local food in stunning setting.

Ballarat is home to Her Majesty’s Theatre, Australia’s oldest purpose-built theatre which presents around 300 performances each year. It was built by the wealthy Clarke family in 1875, at the initiative of a group of locals who felt that Ballarat, as the premier city of the Victorian Goldfields, should have a theatre worthy of its status. Ballarat also has a vibrant live music scene. Renowned basement venue, Karova Lounge,  hosts local and international rock and indie acts, plus DJs on weekends. A music hub since 1891, Suttons House of Music, offers the option of dining while enjoying a live act.

Every Sunday throughout January, the Ballarat Botanical Gardens hosts Summer Sundays, a free event where visitors are invited to roll out the picnic rug and relax with a selection of big-name and emerging acts. Then in February, the Ballarat Beat Rockabilly Festival rolls into town for its annual street party celebrating the music, fashion, cars, and dancing of the Rockabilly era.

In Castlemaine, artist-led organisation Punctum has positioned the town as a regional centre for live art. Under the artistic direction of Jude Anderson, Punctum develops new works that push boundaries and dissolve the barrier between performer and audience. Once used to confine bushrangers and the like, the Old Castlemaine Jail is now used as a place for performance as well as for art exhibitions. Throughout winter, a series of live music events entertain visitors. Originally constructed to entertain diggers during the gold rush, Castlemaine’s Theatre Royal combines an ice-cream parlour, cinema and performance venue. First opened in 1854, is it recognised as Australia’s oldest continually operating theatre, and plays host to touring acts and local bands.  Just down the road and located in what was once a general store, The Bridge Hotel hosts some of the best and biggest names in the Victorian music scene.

Just outside Castlemaine, Newstead Live (26-29 January 2017) welcomes world class performers to its intimate performance spaces for concerts and workshops. Festival-goers can enjoy traditional and contemporary acoustic music over six stages, two village pubs, two cafes, a bakery, a Troubadour wine bar, poets breakfasts, and Australia’s original Trad Disco.

Further north, the community owned and run, Rex Theatre in Charlton has been restored to showcase its original art deco qualities. Weekly screenings of new release films, art house classics, live shows and the annual Charlton Arts Film Festival (25-26 February 2017) attract visitors from all over Victoria.

Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula

The Geelong Performing Arts Centre is the performing arts hub of the region, offering a year round program of music, theatre, dance, comedy and film. It hosts tours by major companies and has a reputation for attracting Victorian exclusive performances that don’t even make it to Melbourne. The Workers Club, also in Geelong, is a barbecue joint, bar and concert venue playing host to an impressive line-up of national and international touring acts. A popular stop on the punk rock circuit, Barwon Club is one of Geelong’s long-time leading band venues.

On the Bellarine Peninsula, a mini one-night festival, the heritage Blues Train in Queenscliff hosts fours acts (one per carriage) as it sways gently across the coastal Bellarine landscape. The Queenscliff Music Festival (26–27 November 2016) is one of the most renowned festivals in Victoria and celebrates its 20^th festival this November.

Australia’s largest and most diverse Celtic celebration, the National Celtic Festival (10–13 June 2016) brings Portarlington to life each year with Celtic music, dancing, songs and jigs, pipers and drummers – and a limerick competition.

To the north of Geelong, in the Moorabool Valley, the ever-popular Meredith Music Festival draws thousands of campers to its natural amphitheater each December to enjoy its eclectic line up. Its little sister, Golden Plains (11–13 March 2017) invites fans to do it all again a few months later.

Great Ocean Road

The Great Ocean Road is home to many stand-out music festivals. Lorne plays host to long-time New Years Eve favourite, Falls Music and Arts Festival (28 December 2016–1 January 2017), one of the longest running, boutique music events in Australia bringing top quality local and international music acts. The family-friendly holiday destination is also home to the Lorne Festival of Performing Arts (2–4 September 2016).

Further west, Port Fairy draws visitors from far and wide to its festivals. Most famous for the Port Fairy Folk Festival (March 2017), the town now also hosts the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival (7–9 October 2016) and Port Fairy Winter Weekends (10 June–24 July 2016), making it an attractive destination for music throughout the year.

The recently redeveloped Lighthouse Theatre in Warrnambool presents an annual program of performances. Nearby, The Loft attracts touring bands from around the country, emerging and established local acts, as well as the occasional international act. Warrnambool is also home to the Aus Music Festival (5–6 November 2016) which focuses on music and songs made and played in Australia.

Gippsland

The West Gippsland Arts Centre, located in Warrigal’s Civic Precinct, is the region’s major performing arts, cultural and community centre and hosts a variety of events and festivals.

In South Gippsland, The Meeniyan Town Hall has made the town a contemporary music destination with a big line up of national and international touring acts drawn in by the Lyrebird Arts Council.

Further south, on the beach front at San Remo, The Westernport offers a laid back vibe and attracts local and national touring acts. It’s an ideal stop enroute to Phillip Island, or following an evening at the Penguin Parade at sunset.

Daylesford and the Macedon Ranges 

In the heart of Victoria’s spa country lies Radio Springs Hotel, in Lyonville –one of central Victoria’s best-and-worst-kept secrets. This eclectic pub venue ‘in the centre of the universe’ is open Thursday to Sunday with lunchtime and evening sessions. Nearby, Kyneton hosts the annual Kyneton Music Festival (21–22 October), attracting a crowd of all ages.

The Murray 

Wodonga might not be the obvious training ground for some of Australia’s best circus performers, but as the home of the Flying Fruit Fly Circus, that is exactly what it is. The country’s only full-time elite circus training school for people aged 8–18, the Flying Fruit Fly Circus also offers out of hours workshops for adults. Visitors are welcome to watch the performers as they practice each weekday (from 1pm–6.30pm) from the designated viewing rooms, and learn about the history of the Circus. Flying Fruit Fly Circus also create original circus works which they tour nationally and internationally and regularly perform at the nearby Cube Wodonga.

At the other end of the Murray River, the Mildura Arts Centre in Sunraysia is home to a new $8.7 million performing arts venue, art gallery, gardens and a sculpture park – all just a stone’s throw from the banks of the mighty Murray River. The stunning proscenium theatre hosts a program of events and performances, including three musical performances this year in partnership with the Melbourne Recital Centre, giving regional audiences access to some of the world’s best musicians.

Mildura is also home to an impressive line-up of festivals, including: Mildura Country Music Festival (23 September–2 October 2016), Murray River International Music Festival (January 2017), Mildura Wentworth Arts Festival (March 2017), Mildura Jazz Festival (28-31 October 2016).

Further upstream, Echuca hosts the annual Echuca Winter Blues Festival (28–31 July) and the Riverboats Music Festival (17–19 February 2017).

Riverlinks is Shepparton’s home of performing arts and live entertainment. As its name suggests, the precinct links Shepparton’s arts and cultural hubs including the Shepparton Art Gallery and WestSide PAC (the main theatre). The precinct stages cultural projects, live music performances and concerts.

Music Festivals

For a full list of the state’s music festivals, see here.